Indian Air Force’s transport aircraft crashes in Assam, pilot feared dead

An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed during landing at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam's Jorhat district on Saturday.

The aircraft went down within the premises of the strategically important air base in Upper Assam, triggering a major emergency response.

According to initial reports, the pilot of the aircraft is feared dead. Information regarding other crew members on board was not immediately available.

Confirming the incident, the IAF reportedly said that a military aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, during landing. The aircraft involved was an AN-32 cargo plane used for transporting supplies. The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land at the airbase. There are fears that the pilot may have lost his life in the crash. Further details are awaited as rescue and investigation efforts continue at the site.

Emergency and rescue teams were rushed to the crash site soon after the incident.

The cause of the crash has not yet been ascertained, and an investigation is expected to be launched to determine the circumstances leading to the accident.

Roureah Air Force Station is one of the Indian Air Force's key installations in the Northeast and plays a crucial role in air operations across Assam and the wider region.

The incident comes months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed near Inglong Ekopi Hill in Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission, around 60 km from Jorhat Air Base.